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Research Policy

NIAS' vision is to generate new insights in Asian affairs, in relations between the Nordic countries and Asia, and in the impact of globalization on the two regions and their mutual relations. We also seek to actively disseminate research results to the wider public in the field of contemporary Asian studies.

Research Field

Our aim is to promote inter-disciplinary, cross-cultural and thus comparative research. Its focal point is the role and impact of Asia in a globalizing world. Of special interest is the growing importance that Asia has for the Nordic region. Research is specifically focused on modern Asia within a historical and social context.

With NIAS as a part of the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Copenhagen, much of our research has a social-science orientation. However, our area-studies orientation means that we cross academic borders on a daily basis. We therefore invite multi-disciplinary approaches, and our research programme is basically guided by an awareness of the impact of culture. Priority is given to a cross-cultural research approach, combined with solid context-specific knowledge.

Research at NIAS

Research at NIAS is carried out by our in-house researchers as well as guest researchers and associated PhD students and is often in cooperation with our wide research network. This means research at NIAS is not uniform, but multi-faceted and varied in the best sense.

There is still room for individual research projects and other themes to exist at NIAS (read more under Current Research). What matters is that all research is innovative and addresses the global challenges related to Asia today. A basic aim of all our research and dissemination policy is to enhance mutual understanding between the Nordic countries and Asia, and in doing so help bring them closer together.